Automatic balanced steam-regulating valve



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

'0. c. PUFFER 8 M. WARREN. AUTOMATIC BALANCED STEAM REGULATING VALVE.

No. 512,748. Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-v-Sheet 2.

0. 0. PUPFE R & WARREN. AUTOMATIG BALANCED STEAM REGULATING VALVE. No.512,748. Patented Jan. ,16, 1894. A

628mm gun/whom we NATIONAL umuawmua acuPANY.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

0.0. PUFPER.& M. WARREN. AUTOMATIC BALANCED STEAM REGULATING VALVE.

No. 512,748. Patented Jan. 16, 1894.

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. I JVWQHIOM Qxlmmw OML M W UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. PUFFER AND MARION WARREN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC BALANCED STEAM-REGULATING IALVE.

SPECIFICATION fQrming part of Letters Patent No. 512,748, dated January16, 1894.

Application filed October 1, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, CHARLES C. PUFFER and MARION WARREN, of Rochester,in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Automatic Balanced Steam- Regulating Valves;and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to automatically regulate the supply ofsteam or other fluid under pressure to an engine cylinder operating apump to maintain a predetermined degree of pressure either above orbelow the normal or atmospheric pressure in a fluid receptacle or seriesof receptacles.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a central section of thedevice constructed and arranged to operate in connection with means foreffecting a partial vacuum and maintaining the pressure in the vacuumchamber and its communicating receptacles if such be used at apredetermined degree below the normal. Fig. 2 is a similar section ofthe device constructed and arranged to automatically regulate the supplyof steam or the like. to operate mechanism for compressing afluid andmaintaining it at a pressure above the normal; and Fig. 3 is a sectionon line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a diagrammatic characterof an entire apparatus embodying our improvement.

Numeral 1 denotes a valve chamber, 2 its. inlet and 3 its outlet leadingto the valve chest 3' of the engine cylinder indicated in Fig. 2. Theinlet 2 communicates in usual manner with a source of steam or otherfluid under pressure as by a pipe and the pipe may be furnished with theusual adjuncts such as a globe valve and oiling device.

Within the valve chamber 1 is a tube at provided with a valve seat 5.This chamber has a removable screw plug at each end to provide for easyaccess to its interior.

Avalve is denoted by 6 and upon its stem on the opposite side of theinlet port 7 is a piston 8 working freely in the tube. The constructionis such that the steam balances the valve whether, closed or open.The'valve Serial Ila 47,509. (No model.)

is moved to and from its seat to regulate the amount of steam admittedto the chamber 2 and valve chest 3 by means of a diaphragm 9 situated ina chamber 10 and made fast on the valve stem. Chamber 10 is inclosed bytwo hollow shells 11 and 12 which are bolted together and hold theflexible diaphragm between them.

13 is a rigid concavo-convex disk adapted to support the diaphragm whenthe pressures on the vacuum and plenum sides of thesame difiersufliciently to render such support desirable.

14 denotes an air inlet also adapted to drain moisture from thechamberon one side of the diaphragm.

15 denotes apetcock and 16 a pressure gage.

As shown in Fig. 1 the chamber 10 on the left ofthe diaphragmwillcommunicate with a receptacle or receptacles such as indicated at 30and'3l in Fig. t in which it is desired to maintain a partial vacuumhaving any desired degree of pressure below the normal. Such vacuumexisting the air pressure on the opposite side of the diaphragm tends tomove it to the left and the spring .17 is arranged to counteract thistendency. One end of the spring is made to bear on a part or extension28 connected to the wall of the diaphragm chamber and the other upon thevalve stem substantially as shown and so that it tendsto open the valve.

18 indicates an elastic washer or cushion adapted to lessen concussionwhen testing the apparatus.

In the present instance the tension of the spring can be adjusted bymoving the screw collar 19 with reference to the sleeve 20 on the valvestem. For this purpose both the collar and the sleeve can be turned ifdesired by means of suitable levers or pins inserted in the sockets 21.

As shown the valve stem is made in sections, the section 22 beingattached to the sections 23 and 24 by keys or pins or in any suitablemanner.

25 is a nut screwed into one of the sections which as well as the nut isslotted to receive a fastening pin. The section 22 passes through astuffing box in the valve chamber a,

1 and is connected within said chamber to section 24 upon which isformed a piston and a valve above described. Section 23 screws into astem 26, upon which is secured the disk 13 by means of a nut. 27 is awasher.

In Fig. 2 is represented an arrangement adapted to regulate themovements of the valve 2 by a pressure above the normal maintained inthe diaphragm chamber on the side opposite the valve chamber and in acommunicating receptacle or receptacles. In this construction the valve6' is made to open in an opposite direction and the spring 17' isarranged to bear on a cross bar or spider 29 supported in the frame 28and its end opposite the valve bears upon the valve stem, its functionbeing to counterbalance the pressure on the opposite side of thediaphragm and to open the valve when such pressure falls below thatpredetermined. The diaphragm-supporting disk 13' is situated on the sidenext the spring and is made integral with a socketed stem 26' whichreceives one section of the valve stem.

At 3' is indicated the valve chest of a steam cylinder adapted tooperate an air compressing or air exhausting device such as indicated at32 in Fig. 4 to maintain any desired pressure on the side of thediaphragm opposite the steam valve 1 and in all receptacles communicating therewith. As shown in Fig. 2 when the pressure rises on theleft of the diaphragm higher than the desired pressure the spring iscompressed and the valve partially or fully closed and when the pressurefalls the valve is opened by the spring, the effect being toautomatically regulate the supply of steam to run an air compressor andmaintain approximately constant pressure in the receptacle for air orother fluids. Substantially the same operation is effected by theconstruction indicated in Fig. 1 except that it is arranged to regulatethe pressure in a partial vacuum the spring being designed to open thevalve when the pressure in the fluid receptacle falls below thatpredetermined and which is below that of the atmosphere. The valve isinstantaneously moved toward its closed position when the pressure onthe vacuum side of the diaphragm falls below that for which the deviceis set and the spring is adjusted to open the valve when the pressure onthe vacuum side is at or near the degree desired. The movements of thevalve will closely follow the slightest fluctuations of pressure andwill so effectually limit them as to maintain what may be regarded as apractically constant pressure.

In testing the apparatus the pressure may be suddenly varied in suchmanner as to produce rapid or extreme movements of the diaphragm inwhich case the elastic washer 13 will be useful to prevent injurious ordisagreeable pounding.

The particular form of the diaphragm case, and the arrangement and modeof connecting the valve stem sections, and the special form of balancedvalve and other parts may be varied provided substantially the sameprinciples of construction and operation are preserved.

We are aware that the water of condensation upon a diaphragm has beenutilized to open a steam valve connected to said diaphragm at intervalsto operate a pump said valve being closed by a spring acting underneaththe diaphragm whenever the superincumbent water was pumped oif. Suchconstruction is not adapted to regulate the action of an air and gascompressor by means of pressure in the receptacle acted upon by suchcompressor. Further in such construction the valve stem was prolongedbeyond the valve and the valve casing provided with a guiding socket,which latter features are avoided in the present device in which apiston 8 is guided in the valve tube itself which latter has a singlevalve seat in its end instead of the oppositely situated openings of theprior construction.

We are aware of a prior construction consisting of a pump provided witha steam supply pipe having a balanced valve and a diaphragm chamber andweighted lever so arranged that pressure produced by the pump acts uponthe diaphragm to raise it and the weighted lever with the eflfect toclose the valve, said valvebeingadapted to be opened by the weight. Suchconstruction is not adapted to pressures below the normalsince suchpressure would permit the atmosphere or weight to open the valve and thelower the pump .pressure the more positively would the Valve be heldopen, and furthermore in such prior construct-ion no means weredisclosed for maintaining an equable pressure in receptacles such asbeer casks otherwise subject to considerable injurious variations ofpressure from causes outside the apparatus. In the prior apparatus asubsidiary air pump operated stroke for stroke with a main pump wasdesigned to keep the work of the latter constant by suitable regulationof the steam supply. Such construction is radically unlike ours in whichthe only pump or engine used is employed directly to maintain a constantpressure in a series of receptacles otherwise subject to considerablevariations and in which said pump or engine being the sole one requiredmust be varied in speed to secure the object of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus wherein an engine is employed to maintain a constantpressure in a closed receptacle or communicating series of receptacles,the combination of the valve chamber having steam inlet and outlet, asteam balanced valve, a diaphragm secured on the valve stem within achamber which chamber on one side of said diaphragm communicates withthe upper part of a fluid receptacle, or series of receptacles, and onthe other with the atmosphere, a spring on said valve stem arranged toopen the valve, and the engine communicating with said receptacles andadapted to vary the pressure therein whereby the supply of steam to theengine can be automatically regulated by the variations of the pressureoriginating in said receptacle and such variations immediatelycounteracted by the engine and the valve opened when required byatmospheric pressure; substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus wherein an engine is employed to maintain a constantpressure in a closed receptacle or communicating series of receptacles,the combination of the valve chamber having steam inlet and outlet, asteam balanced valve, a curved diaphragmsupporting plate, a diaphragmsecured on the valve stem within a chamber which chamber on one side ofsaid diaphragm communicates with a fluid receptacle, or series ofreceptacles, and on the other with the atmosphere,a spring on said valvestem arranged to open the valve, and the engine communicating with saidreceptacles and adapted to vary the pressure therein whereby the supplyof steam to the engine can be automatically regulated by the variationsof the pressure in said receptacle and such variations immediatelycounteracted by the engine and the valve opened when required byatmospheric pressure; substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the valve chamber having each end closed byaremovable screw plug and having a steam inlet and a steam outlet, atube situated in said chamber adapted to communicate freely at all timeswith said inlet, a diaphragm and diaphragm chamber, a frame connect-ingthe chambers, a valve having a seat in said tube and provided with apiston also within the tube and situated on the opposite side of thetube inlet port, a rod made in detachable sections one of which carriesthe valve and its piston, said rod being connected to the diaphragm andpassing through a stuffing box in one of the screw plugs and a springbearing on the rod and on a part connected to the wall of the diaphragmchamber; all constructed and combined substantially as set forth,whereby the parts can be readily assembled and are made easy of access.

4. The combination of the valve chamber having steam inlet and outletand an interior tube, a diaphragm and diaphragm chamber, a frameconnecting the chambers, a valve'having a seat in said tube, a rodconnected to the diaphragm, a spring bearing on the diaphragm chamberand rod and adapted to open the valve, the sleeve 20, the nut screwthreaded on said sleeve whereby the spring is held at one end andwhereby its tension may be adjusted, the diaphragm-holding stem and anelastic washer 18 on the valve rod between said stem and the diaphragmcase to prevent concussion; substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. G. PUFFER. MARION WARREN. Witnesses for Chas. C. Puffer:

W. VAN BENSATEN, M. B. CHIOHESTER. Witnesses for Marion Warren:

GEORGE H. FRASER, ARTHUR C. FRASER.

